The Sprout

The Seacourt Stream being aerated after a major sewage spill in 2016

The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley

Issue 151 October 2020

The Sprout

Issue 151, October 2020

Contents

3 Letters to the Editor

5 Back to School

11 Planning Applications

13 Remembrance Sunday

15 West Way Shopping

17 Dr Blazewicz – a local hero

21 A Little Art goes a Long Way

23 Foodbank Update

29 Seacourt Hall AGM

31 West Way – nearly there

33 Poems for Breakfast

35 Prescriptions & Chemists

38 Randoms

39 Local organizations

From the Editor

What does the October Sprout have to offer? It was time, we felt, to

review how things have changed since Lockdown. First, the schools –

kids are back, how’s it going so far (p5)? The Foodbank (p23) is

almost back to normal, the Seacourt Hall is open again and looking

for public-spirited citizens to join the management committee (p29),

the shopping centre is almost back to where it was before the

rebuilding started (p15) – perhaps now is a good time to rethink how

it could be made to work! Our retail reporter has some good ideas.

Oxford’s art galleries are reopening – cautiously – (p21).

Remembrance Sunday will be a little different this year – confined to

30 participants, and observed behind locked gates on 8th November

(p13), but there will be a two-minute silence in the shopping centre at

11am on 11th November, as in other years. Looking back, there’s a

tribute to a local hero, the much loved Dr Blazewicz, who left the local

practice in 2012, and our cover shows a picture of earlier problems

with sewage in the Seacourt Stream that have come back to haunt

Thames Water once again (see page 38). Lots going on then, and the

Sprout is here to report it! Happy reading!

Ag MacKeith

Letters to the Editor

In response to the letter from Colin and Sally Hersom last month, re the

length of time it is taking to get the Library open again, the Sprout has

been sent this letter from the County Council’s Library Service:

Oxfordshire County Council IT department are currently working closely

with the Broadband suppliers and building landlord to arrange the

installation of the cables which will connect the Library to the County

Council network.

After many months of negotiation, we understand all that is outstanding

is the cabling from the building’s plant room into the library. As the

cabling needs to go through areas of the building not leased by OCC

(including the Parish Council office) a Wayleave between the providers

and the landlord is required and needs to be approved.

All parties involved are aware that this work has taken considerably

longer [than it should?] and are working hard to deliver the connection

to allow the new Botley Library to be opened at the nearest opportunity

so it can support the community. Once this last piece of work is

completed the library is ready to reopen.

We do know staff are desperately keen to get back to their beautiful new

library and can’t wait to welcome customers back.

Simon Lay, Library Operations Manager (Branch Network)

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SAD NEWS!

There will be NO 2020 APPLE DAY.

It’s been scuppered by the Covid-19 rules.

Maybe next year+

Back to School

The Sprout wondered how everyone was finding being back at school

under the new set-up, so we asked a few local parents, teachers and

pupils. The first response is from a teacher at Botley Primary.

Botley School

It was a joy to see so many smiling faces coming back through the

school doors at the beginning of September. The new headteacher, Mrs

Jo Reid, was in post, the academic year had started and a new kind of

normal was about to begin. When we closed for lockdown on March

20th as a result of Covid-19, not one of us was prepared for such a long

period of absence and for so many new tasks to be thrust upon us! We

missed so many of the lovely events we would have shared together –

May Dancing, Sports Day, our infamous ‘Botley’s Got Talent’

competition, the Year 6 performance and the Leavers’ Assembly to

name but a few … but most of all we missed the children!

Getting ready for

reopening was a

challenge in itself

– our main priority

was the safety of

the children, staff

and community, as

a result many an

hour was spent

trying to think of all

the ways we could

overcome the

many barriers we

could predict and

those which arose

as time went on.

With such a large school building we were confident there was sufficient

space for us all within our class ‘bubbles’, but staffing all areas has been

a challenge we have risen to. We have staggered break and lunch

times, organised the use of equipment, recorded virtual assemblies and

are preparing for our next bout of online learning provision should we

need to lockdown again in a hurry. The picture shows a Year 2 class

with desks in rows but still trying to look child-friendly!

All these practical things are do-able, and we continue to watch the

latest Government guidance like hawks, adjusting and reviewing our

procedures on a daily basis. So far, the children have presented as

resilient and robust – they have returned with the intention of getting on

with the new ways and our start has been peaceful and purposeful. But

what about what we can’t see? We are fully expecting to be supporting

our families throughout this time and in the future and will work around

people as much as we can. Staff have come back with vigour – but

distancing from colleagues whilst at work, not sharing problems or

talking through daily situations will continue to add to an already

stretched workforce who really just need to share a cup of tea or coffee

and put the education system to rights as we normally do!

It is a privilege to work with the young people here at Botley School, to

influence some of their experiences as they grow and progress on their

academic journey and to instil in them a love of learning and a sense of

adventure as we face new challenges both academic and personal.

There is always a sense of calm around the school and our return to a

Dickensian seating plan of sitting in rows facing the front has

exacerbated the calm – however, we are here to make the best of the

present and the future, as we have since school opened in 1938, and

we will continue to ensure we promote our over-arching school values:–

BE BRILLIANT, BE SAFE!

Alex Neil

North Hinksey School

This comes from a classroom assistant in the Reception class:

Working as a Voluntary Helper in North Hinksey School

for over seven years has given me a sense of joy and

fulfilment. The ethos of the school is to care for one

another and to flourish and achieve. It is said that you

are never too old to learn. You can learn a lot from

listening to children as you stop and talk to them in

passing. They are sometimes wise beyond their years.

As a Women’s Institute member I have been able to

pass on some of my skills to them. In the past we have

enjoyed cooking together, making anything from Pasta

Bake to Hard Tack biscuits that would have been eaten on board a ship

long ago. We have cooked a variety of both savoury and sweet items

such as Cheese Twists, Dragon biscuits (see picture), Flapjacks, and

not forgetting the memorable tiny Quiches!!!!

The gardening sessions in the

lunch hour have also proved to be

great fun. We have grown so

many things in the raised bed, and

the garden outside Year 1 looks

stunning (with lettuces in photo).

We also attempted growing

mushrooms. This was a great

success. Soon the cooking and

the gardening will begin again.

The future for this at North

Hinksey School looks positive and I look forward with great optimism.

Jenny Holloway

And finally, from the Sarfatti family, who have four children in two

schools:

This summer we had a long time to prepare for the first day at school.

Six months to be exact. By the time school started we were so prepared

that we naturally had to leave a few things behind.

Lia, now in Year 9, received a much needed extra day at home before

school started. Home was so quiet that day that she had to liven it up

with some background music. But before that, she actually left the

house with Alma and her friends to provide some senior advice on their

way up to school.

Alma started Year 7: new school, new teachers, new bag (a really pretty

one). In the morning we found we didn’t need to walk her up the hill as a

group of excited girls were waiting outside our house to conquer the hill

together. Coming back from her first day, she felt rather lucky to be with

children she has known since they were six months old!

Ben and Emmie went back to Botley School and it took us all a few

days to understand which side of the road to walk on, when to wear the

masks and generally to get used to this surreal new world. Back they

came from their first day, so happy to have met their friends and

teachers and yet reporting that ‘school is so different now, we miss our

friends from the other classes who are not in our bubbles!’

A few days later, I started to appreciate the ‘joy’ of having children in

different schools. I came back from the Botley School drop-off, to learn

from the girls that Ben had left with one of his trainers and one of Lia’s.

On my way back to school to swap the shoes, I had a call from Lia to

say that Jasmine had followed her to school and she’s

concerned that the little kitten won’t find the way back.

The next call was from Alma who ‘just wanted me to

know’ she had forgotten the shoes she needed for her

art class. Driving up the hill at the last minute to give

her the right shoes, I saw Lia arriving. She had

dropped off the kitten at a friend’s house up the hill –

resourceful child of mine! The time was 9.16am when

morning events came to an end, and I felt pretty happy

– the kind of feeling you have when you’ve managed various dramatic

events over a few sites. Maybe I should apply for a job at the fire

station.

This article was supposed to reflect the children’s experience of coming

back to school, but somehow we got to the publisher's deadline

realizing we had been talking a lot about it but we hadn’t written

anything yet. So this is the result of a joint family chat about the first

days of school. ‘Luckily’ we are self isolating at the moment, waiting for

Covid-19 test results, so once again we have some time to spend

together and actually talk.

Orit Sarfatti

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LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS

P20/V1698/FUL

5 Toynbee Close. Extend existing

bungalow to form one 2 bed unit &

two 1 bed units.

10 August

TDD: 5 Oct

P20/V2050/HH

25 Yarnells Hill. Erection of front

porch.

13 August

TDD: 8 Oct

P20/V2100/PDH

22 Sycamore Rd. Rear flat roof

extension for family room & WC.

21 August

TDD: 2 Oct

P20/V1495/HH

Holm Lodge Harcourt Hill. Install

electric wooden gate at entrance to

drive.

24 August

TDD: 19 Oct

P20/V2149/LDP

3 St Pauls Crescent. Formation of

habitable room in loft space.

7 September

TDD: 2 Nov

Remembrance Day 2020

The annual Remembrance Service at the Commonwealth War Graves

will unfortunately be a restricted event this year due to the rules around

public gatherings during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The service will take place at the War Graves on Sunday 8th November

but will be restricted to just 30 invited guests. The whole cemetery will

be closed with gates locked between 10am and 12:30pm on the day.

With such small numbers permitted, the focus is on inviting

representatives of the fallen military and children from local schools,

Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scouts.

We realise that, for the many hundreds of local people and visitors to

this event each year, this will be disappointing news. We are determined

to mark the event and to try to make it available in other ways. The

service can be followed on Radio Cherwell as in previous years, and we

plan to film and live stream the service online. You will find details on

the parish council website (northhinksey-pc.gov.uk) from 1st

November.

The 11th November this year falls on a Wednesday. As in past years, a

two-minute silence will be observed and a bugler will play the Last Post

in the centre of Botley. We are pleased that this year we can return to

the West Way

shopping centre

for this event.

Social distancing

will be observed,

and if you are able

to attend on the

day, please follow

the government

guidelines.

Graham

Fairclough, Chair

of North Hinksey

Parish Council’s

Remembrance

Committee

Blue Sky Thinking on West Way Shopping

Since my article in July I have been out and about a bit more, but my

initial reaction to a request from the Editor for an update was that if

anything is actually happening our readers are likely to know before me!

However West Way Square is taking shape and does actually look like

the pictures, students have moved in (occupancy is around 50%) and

the Premier Inn are finishing their fit out.

I have even ventured into the main car park: you have to admire the

way that the design of the exit was given to a work-experience student!

If you recall, in June I received the following from Latham High (BDC’s

letting agent): ‘We have had strong interest from both local and national

retail and restaurant operators in the scheme and we are in detailed

negotiation on a number of

units.’

Since we have heard nothing

about the outcomes from these

‘detailed negotiations’ I tried to

obtain an update, but the helpful

person at Latham High says: ‘I

can’t seem to get hold of my

boss to clarify.’ So, zero out of

10 for communication from the

organization that we are relying

on for the future shape of our

retail offer.

Of course, we know that these

are very tough times for retailers

of any sort. Many well known

high street names will disappear

(or have already) and the casual

dining scene will never be the

same again. Over 20,000 stores

are expected to close in 2020

following 16,000 closures in

2019. These closures are mainly

caused by high costs (rents,

rates and labour), low

profitability, and loss of sales to

online. However, it is not all bad news. In an online poll on Botley Notice

Board Facebook page, the top votes for new retail are Café/Coffee

Shop, Bakery, Chippy, Restaurant and Greengrocer, none of which are

affected by online sales and all of which provide a vital local service.

The issue of high costs is a reality that needs to be addressed but this is

surely not beyond the expertise of BDC?

Maybe it is time for BDC to review their business model and decide

what overall retail offer is going to make West Way Square actually

work. Sitting around waiting for a national chain or an independent

entrepreneur to pay ‘normal’ rent is unlikely to be the answer, at least

not in the foreseeable future.

Now is the time for creative thinking. I suspect that local people would

love an independent café, that sold bread and maybe had an evening

offer (a bit like Café Aloha?). Why not advertise a turnover-based rent

and let BDC make money when the tenant does? This might be the way

BDC are thinking, but I haven’t heard anything like this.

Essentially, Botley residents want exactly what they had before! There

was nothing wrong with the previous retail offer, it was just situated in a

dilapidated and unloved structure. Now that Lloyds and Chancellors

have re-located, we have by and large, the core retail offering we had

before, except for a hairdresser, a take-away and a café.

I understand that there has been some interest in a take-away in the old

Post Office, so maybe that will lead to something for West Way Square?

There are plans for a Farmer’s Market in the piazza and I am assured

that this will happen once the outside building works are complete.

Shared space is an idea worth looking at. ‘The Shop Witney’ is a pop-up

shop where up to 40 local artisans can display their offerings as a co-

operative venture (a bit like an antiques arcade).

There has also been some work done nationally on Banking Hubs,

where local banks and building societies share space. Botley would

seem an ideal location for such an offer.

Shared space projects need sponsors. Could this be an opportunity for

Mace to develop some new expertise? We can only hope!

Mike Cockman

P.S. Most units are still available to let. Thanks to Caroline Potter for this

link to the developers’ brochure with a map of all the units showing

where the current ones are going: https://westwaysquare.com/wp-

content/uploads/2019/11/west waysquare_brochure.pdf

A Local Hero

Remember Dr Blazewicz? Selfless, empathetic, energetic, always ready

to go the extra mile for his patients, he was something of a local legend

in Botley. For decades he was the most popular practitioner at the Elms

Road surgery, as it was known for many years, before it reinvented itself

under the changes brought in by the Coalition Government. The

restructure was too much for Dr B., who left the practice in 2012

saying, memorably, that he ‘was a doctor, not a businessman’.

What happened to him? He was of an age to retire – but did he? The

Sprout has received an update from his sister Barbara, and we are glad

to report that our loss is the county’s gain. Here is her breathless

account of her brother’s life, post 65:

“His thirst for helping as many people as possible (medically and

otherwise) has certainly not diminished as the years have gone by – if

anything it has increased!! … He continues diligently and energetically

in all hours – going between Bicester – Banbury – Witney – Abingdon –

St Barts (Oxford) – and Henley on Thames with locum work at Bury

Knowle/Wood Farm and Bicester surgeries.

In his spare time he attends medical lectures enabling him to enhance

his incredible knowledge even more!! In June 2013 he was delighted to

become a PACES [Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills]

Examiner (the first GP ever!!).

From March 2019, as an Alumnus of St John’s College, Oxford, he was

able to pass on his experience as an Oxford Clinician with his famous

bedside approach to teaching medical students (which he maintains by

keeping active with his work in clinics and casualty) so enabling his own

frontiers of

knowledge to

continue to

grow.

If I had to

describe my

brother in one

word it would

be HERO – and

our world is so

much better for

having him in it.

He also finds

time for hobbies – motorbikes, cars and mathematics all play in

important part in his life. (The photo, taken last year, shows him with his

beloved Morgan.)

Over the years, he has acquired an amazing collection of patients and

colleagues, and it’s for you that I decided to write this article...

I am so glad that my brother continues to be a ‘people’s doctor’. In fact

he is as busy as ever (the way he likes to be) and judging from the

comments and feedback, he is recognized as ‘one of a kind’ – just as he

has always been.

Being a doctor for Les is so much more than just being medically savvy.

It’s a way of life, and he wouldn't want it any other way.”

His parents, who were both in the Polish army during the Second World

War, survived the horrors of that period to find safety in England. His

passion for medicine and mathematics have been passed on to his two

daughters, one of whom is a GP and the other a Maths teacher.

Ag MacKeith (with thanks to Barbara Blazewicz)

A Little Art goes a Long Way!

Will we ever feel normal again? As I write, the new normal is

threatening to revert to lockdown, with a significant rise in the number of

Covid cases. One way of coping with our renewed state of unease is to

take in some of the art exhibitions the Oxford area is blessed with.

After several months' closure, the Ashmolean reopened in August, with

arrangements carefully designed to protect visitors and staff. At the

moment, it is not possible just to wander in off the street as before. The

total number of visitors at any given time is strictly controlled, so you

have to book a free, timed ticket for general entry to the Museum overall

… and if you want to see one of their special exhibitions, such as the

current Young Rembrandt, a separate booking is required (NB: Young

Rembrandt has been extended to November 1st)

The ticket procedure was quick and efficient when I went there recently.

Even from outside the building, your safety and comfort are assured:

there are staff greeting you at the entrance, footprints and arrows on the

floors throughout the building, and measures to help guide you through

the myriad small galleries without feeling edgy about social distancing.

So although at the moment you can't wander quite at will, arrangements

allow you to see everything you might want at your own relaxed pace.

Hand sanitisers are strategically located. Numbers within the Shop and

the Cafe also are controlled, for maximum comfort. In the Cafe, the

number of tables has been reduced, and they are spread apart; each

table is sanitised after every use.

So, I did feel it had been a good day out at the Ashmolean, much to be

recommended.

But of course that's not the only local gallery; we are spoiled for choice

in this area. Modern Art Oxford will be reopening on 2nd October after

its lengthy Covid closure. And there are small private galleries, too, to

visit for visual feasts. So many to choose from, but why not start with

the Carey Blyth Gallery at 8 Woodstock Road, where local artists often

are featured (jennyblythfineart.co.uk for details), or a few minutes

further afield, the new Zuleika Gallery in Woodstock, next to the

Museum (zuleikagallery.com). Your comfort and safety are guaranteed

at these smaller venues, too: numbers are restricted; face masks

essential; hand sanitisers in place.

All in all, a pleasant way to forget about the dreaded virus!

Ruth Cameron

Foodbank in Coronavirus Times

In March it became apparent that even with Marcelo’s meticulous

hygiene regime, we could not continue our usual crowded operation

with a warehouse full of people and up to three volunteers to a van.

Many volunteers had already come to the sensible decision to step

down, so it was clear that we would need time to reboot.

First things first At the beginning of the lockdown when pubs,

restaurants and professional kitchens were closing, we sent emails and

received free help from a marketing company to publicise our request

for food surplus. We then collected food offered by schools, colleges,

restaurants, pubs and other businesses, including a vast 4–5 ton

TKMaxx haul. Meanwhile we dealt with hundreds of emails and phone

calls from prospective donors, would-be volunteers, current volunteers,

hungry people, confused professionals and curious well-wishers.

We closed for three weeks from the end of March, to have a rest and

work out how best to continue operating without risking everyone’s

health. During the closure period we cleaned everything, even things

that probably hadn’t seen soap and water in seven years. Emma

continued to answer emails and phone calls throughout, redirecting

people to the services that were still operating.

April’s changes We reopened in April for

just three weekdays plus Sunday as we

didn’t feel we had enough business to go

back to seven days a week. We have gone

down to three basic shifts each day (from

6/7). As those days filled up and become

incredibly busy (and exhausting) at the

base, that turned out to be a very good

decision! For five months we have run the

entire operation with a 30-strong team of

volunteers and staff. They have all been

absolutely fantastic, doing the same shift

week after week. We hardly needed the

rota…

Busy, busy, busy About two-thirds of the groups we would normally

supply remained closed throughout lockdown, but we resumed

deliveries to 25 mainly residential charities (e.g. homeless, mental

health). This period also saw many new community groups arise to fill

the gaps in food provision, since with the continued need for social

distancing all community meals remain closed. Groups are now

providing take-away services, delivering food parcels or ready meals.

Furloughed chefs offered their services and kitchens to cook gourmet

meals. Existing groups adapted their operation to try to help more

people in need (the network of fridges in the county – originally set up to

reduce fairly modest amounts of food waste – expanded hugely in this

period, some of them even delivering food parcels). Some charity staff

are still making up food parcels or cooking meals for delivery to their

clients whilst their premises remain closed.

Playing our part When we reopened we decided to support all of

these initiatives as best as we could. For most it meant they would have

to collect from us as they did not have permanent homes or transport.

We created a schedule for all visitors to the base, giving each a

dedicated time slot. This has worked really well. We now have about 30

groups visiting over three weekdays – in cars, vans, 20-ton trucks --

which has proved a very efficient way of moving stock on!

The volume of fresh stock we receive plummeted almost overnight once

the country had gone into lockdown. From a daily average of 1.2 tons of

‘surplus’ (as weighed by our friends at Unipart) we are probably down

to half a ton on each weekday we’re open. And very little of that is fruit

and veg. On the plus side we have saved countless pallets of

kombucha and tortilla chips from going to waste.

In terms of fresh/chilled food we have retained all of our supermarkets,

and two wholesalers (Savona and Chef Direct), as well as some smaller

niche food producers, and have just resumed our once-a-week slot at

Hello Fresh. We have as yet to re-establish contact with Fresh Direct or

Roots, for years our main source of fresh produce.

DEFRA £16m Funding In May we were asked to be part of the

government/Fareshare collaboration which would see tons of ambient

stock delivered to key distributors like us. Given that we had so little

fresh food it seemed a good way to continue supporting the community,

and we quickly became a hub for almost every group in the county! Our

landlord kindly lent us another empty unit on the estate. This week we

took delivery of the final batch of 168 pallets (they arrive 26 at a time on

an articulated lorry), upwards of 200 tons in total. Day to day, Marcelo

manages this warehouse, while Matthew runs the old base.

A few weeks ago we restarted a collection and delivery shift on

Tuesdays and Thursdays so we are currently operating six days a

week. Two or three of our charities are reopening each week but they

are offering a limited service to their clients or again, providing a food

parcel service. But we have the structures in place now for a full return

to our original operation should it be needed – or, more importantly,

possible – in these coronavirus times.

Cathy Howard

Seacourt Hall AGM, 10th November

and Nominations for Public Representatives

Seacourt Hall is a registered charity managed by a committee of

trustees (Seacourt Hall Management Committee), made up of

representatives of the North Hinksey Parish Council (NHPC), hall users

and public representatives.

Two members of the public will be elected as Charity Trustees (public

representatives) by residents over 18, present at the AGM, which will

take place on 10th November (7pm at Seacourt Hall or via Zoom, to be

decided nearer the time). Any North Hinksey parish resident aged over

18 may put their own name forward to be a Charity Trustee and a

seconder is not needed.

Nominations should be sent to the Secretary before 5pm on the 27th

October. This can be by post in the Seacourt Hall letterbox at the Library

end of the building (opposite Tesco Express) or by email to

treasurer@seacourthall.org.uk

If you would like more information in advance, including the

responsibilities of being a trustee, please see the website at

seacourthall.org.uk, call 07967 111014, or contact Lorna Berrett on

lberrett.nhpc@gmail.com

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Call for new members

The Botley/Kennington Patient Participation Group (PPG) is looking for

new members. We are all patients of the Practice and we exist to

develop a positive and constructive relationship between patients, the

practice and the community it serves, ensuring the practice remains

accountable and responsive to all its patients’ needs.

We meet on Zoom for about an hour and a half on the second Tuesday

of every month at 6 pm. We recognize this time is not good for some but

it is set to ensure the doctors and practice manager can also join us.

If you would like to join all you need to do is email Chris Sugden, the

Secretary, on csugden@ocrpl.org You will then be on the circulation

list and will get the Zoom details for each meeting. You don’t have to

come to every meeting just come when you can. Look forward to seeing

you soon. Thank you

Sylvia Buckingham, Chair PPG

West Way Square: nearly there

At the time of writing in mid-September, students have begun to move in

to the West Way accommodation, the returning shops are either open or

fitting out ready to move in, the Seacourt Hall is reopening, the

landscaping is nearly complete, and only IT issues are holding back the

reopening of the Library. So life is returning to the centre of Botley,

albeit with vacant units and activity massively restricted by the Covid-19

pandemic.

Our new shopping and community centre is opening at perhaps the

most uncertain time in all our memories. But while no opening

ceremony or large gatherings can be held, this outdoor space is where

we can see neighbours and friends and where we will welcome new

residents and businesses to our community in the future. We can also

support our local businesses and their staff who have been supporting

us all throughout the past months.

With the completion of this phase of the development in sight, Mace and

SDC held the final Community Liaison Group (CLG) meeting of Phase 1

at the end of August (notes can be found on the North Hinksey Parish

Council website www.northhinksey-pc.gov.uk). Phase 2 will follow, but

not until a revised planning application has been considered. It covers

“Block A” on the corner of West Way and Westminster Way, where the

former Grant Thornton and Elms Court buildings stand now. The revised

planning application is to add a further storey with an additional 30 flats,

making 150 flats and adding 1.5m in height, taking the approved 8-

storey building up to 9 storeys. NHPC objected to the amended

application due to its size, contradiction to current planning policy, and

lack of additional parking for the extra flats. The application will be

discussed by the Vale of White Horse District Council’s Planning

Committee on 21st October. Look out for news of their decision.

Meanwhile, many of us have questions about how the centre works:

questions about parking, pedestrian areas, what shops and restaurants

might be coming, a potential farmers’ market, how to ask permission to

hold an event, how to rent a shopping unit or a flat, and more. A website

is coming we are told, but in the meantime you can email the Facilities

Manager for the centre – Lisa Himpson of Savills – who is regularly on

site and can be contacted at Lisa.Himpson@Savills.com.

Please be aware that Church Way is closed to vehicles from 10am to

4pm and vehicles entering this space will be captured by the automatic

number plate recognition system and may receive a fine in the post. The

car parks are all free for 2 hours and there is no need to get a ticket

from the machines unless you are staying longer. An application for free

evening parking has been submitted to the Vale but no news on that yet.

Following discussions at the CLG concerning security presence in the

centre over-night it has been confirmed that there will be a mobile night

security patrol as well as CCTV.

You can also continue to raise any questions with any Parish Councillor

(contact details on the NHPC website), and we will do what we can to

get answers on your behalf. Any updates we receive are posted on our

website and Facebook pages, and major notifications go onto the

noticeboards around the parish – including a new noticeboard recently

installed on the grass area next to the community building. So look out

in all those places for news about the centre, the planning application

and the next phase.

Lorna Berrett, Chair of NHPC Communications Committee

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Poems for Breakfast

My mother, who hates thunderstorms…

The apples on the trees are full of wasps…

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you…

Aren’t these the most wonderful beginnings of sentences? Don’t you

want to know what happens? And if you read them out loud, slowly,

don’t they SOUND glorious? They are the first lines of three poems that

I have received in the last fortnight from Poems for Breakfast:

oxfordpoetrylibrary.wordpress.com/2020/03/20/poems-for-breakfast/.

It’s a free service from the Oxford Poetry Library, where you get emailed

a poem at about 7:45am every weekday. The poems are seasonal -- at

the moment they are about the end of summer – and from poets that I,

at least, hadn’t heard of before. I signed up in March. I haven’t loved

every poem that I’ve been sent, but every single one has transported

me away from the bad news, and introspection and worry of the day.

You too might want to receive them. If you do, just email them. R.T.

Prescriptions and Local Chemists

The Patients Participation Group (PPG) for Botley Medical Centre and

its branch surgery, Kennington Health Centre have produced a

summary of all the pharmacists in the catchment area along with their

policies for prescriptions, including repeat prescriptions. We have

separated out the ones relevant to the Sprout readership, but kept the

map, as it’s interesting to see how far the practice extends.

A Multidisciplinary Team at the surgery deals with a medication request.

This team includes doctors, pharmacists, physician associates and

nurse prescribers who liaise together and have access to the patient’s

medical notes. The manner in which it is prescribed can vary depending

upon the patient’s problem, ranging from (a) face-to-face in the surgery

(b) GP home visit (c) telephone consultation (d) video consultation or an

online consultation. The medication needed may also have been started

by Secondary Care at the Hospital or by a different clinic.

Once the medication request is processed or the Health Care

Professional has made a diagnosis that will need medication, the

prescription will be issued either via an electronic copy sent direct to the

patient’s choice of pharmacist, a paper copy given directly to the patient,

or a paper copy collected by the pharmacist from the surgery.

The Patient can collect their medicines from any pharmacist. The GP

will send the prescription to the Patient’s pharmacy of choice. Any

pharmacy can be chosen, including some outside the catchment area

that are open late and on Sundays.

It would be nice though to collect medicines from a local pharmacy

within the catchment area of the Botley Medical Centre and Kennington

Health Centre and be seen to support essential local businesses.

Patients with long term problems who require repeat prescriptions have

the following options for receiving medicines regularly:

 Attending GP surgery to deliver

the white copy from the previous

prescription, ticking the boxes of

the medicines required

 Attending the pharmacy with the

white copy of the previous pre-

scription, boxes ticked.

 Ordering a repeat prescription online, using the BMP protocol out-

lined below.

 Emailing a request to occg.prescriptions.botleymedicalcentre

@nhs.net

Botley’s local pharmacists

Woodland Pharmacy

82 Botley Road

Oxford

OX2 0UB

Tel: 01865 242649

Hours: Mon-Fri 9.00am-5.30pm.

Saturday 9am--1pm. Closed on Sundays.

Delivery Service available – currently free

Lloyds Chemist

Still in the portacabin to the left of Elms Parade, but hoping to

move into the smart new unit in the Square by the time you read

this.

Tel: 01865 247023

Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-1.00pm 2.00pm-6.30pm.

Sat 9.00am-5.30pm. Sun closed

Delivery Service available free/subscription (better check first)

N.B. Allow 2 working days for your prescription to be ready

How to Order Your Repeat Prescription Online

The Practice recommends you to request your prescription online, as

the safest and easiest way to make

sure you have the right medicine. You

will need to register for on line access

to order repeat prescriptions, and this

will also enable you to book appoint-

ments on line and to view a summary

of your medical records. They will send

the prescription to the chemist of your

choice.

To register for the online service you complete the registration form via

the link on www.botleymedicalcentre.com or pick up the form from Re-

ception at the surgery. Print out the form, fill it in and hand it to Recep-

tion, who will generate a username and password for you and supply

you with full instructions. Please bring some photo ID with the form so

they can verify they are giving the log-in details to the correct person.

If your medication is due for review the process may take a little longer

and you may need to see the doctor, pharmacist or nurse before your

next prescription is issued. In common with most other practices, they

no longer take repeat prescription requests over the telephone, to avoid

the risk of mistakes.

Sylvia Buckingham

The map below shows the catchment area of the practice:

Randoms

Going to the Doctor in 2020

Botley Medical Centre reminds patients to let the practice know of any

changes in your contact details as soon as possible, via email:

botleymedicalcentre@nhs.net or phone (01865 248719 or 730911).

Or you can update your own records at https://www.botley

medicalcentre.co.uk/ on the "Online Services" page or "Further

information: 7. Important Forms" Keep an eye on the practice website,

to stay in touch with the latest developments.

When patients have hearing difficulties they may be assessed (by email,

or via a carer or relative by phone) by a variety of professionals: the GP,

nurse, physiotherapist, pharmacist, paramedic or physician's associate.

After the assessment a face-to-face appointment will be offered if

needed.

Sewage Pollution in Seacourt Stream

At the Parish Council meeting on 10th September, it was agreed to

send a strongly worded message to Thames Water. The motion, put

forward by Cllr Bastin, seconded by Cllr Kay, went like this:

“This Parish Council notes, to its disgust, that Thames Water has

discharged sewage overflow into the Seacourt Stream a total of 63

times in 2019, for a total of 156 hours [reference supplied]. This council

further notes that Thames Water has been granted a 'temporary' permit

to do so by the Environment Agency. This Parish Council finds the

discharge of overflow sewage directly into the Seacourt Stream to be

unacceptable. This Parish Council therefore resolves to ask its Clerk to

contact Thames Water and the Environment Agency, asking the

following questions:

 What is the drainage strategy for the area including North

Hinksey Parish?

 What is the status of the two 'combined sewer overflows', Botley

Road SP48066205 CSO and North Hinksey Lane SP4905551A

CSO?”

The photo on the cover of this month’s Sprout first appeared in 2016,

and shows Thames Water’s efforts to undo the effects of earlier sewage

spills. No doubt these have been happening more and more often, as

they are generally the consequence of heavy rainfall overwhelming the

sewers and flushing their contents into the river. Endsewagepollution

Thames is a campaign to get the practice banned from the whole river.

Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details to

editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.

1st Botley Brownies

Girls aged 7–10

Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Jean Metson,

firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com

2nd Botley Brownies

Girls aged 7–10

Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison

Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com

4th Oxford Scout Group

Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts

Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk

Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/

15th Oxford Scout Group

Boys and girls welcome

Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, 1 Church Way, Botley

Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)

07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk

Baby & Toddler Group Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall

Badminton Club

Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark 0777

3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com

BikeSafe. B4044 community

path campaign

Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8 weeks.

Contact via website B4044path.org

Books on Wheels R.V.S. Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142

Botley Boys & Girls F.C.

Football teams from ages 8-16

Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@sky.com or Brendan

Byrne 792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com

Botley Community Larder

Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at Seacourt Bridge Pub. Drop by,

message via Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com

Botley Health Walks

Wednesday 9.30am. Contact Briony on Ox 246497

Botley Library

01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,

otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).

Botley Seniors Lunch Club

Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865

241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386

Botley Singers

Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela Astley-

Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com

Cumnor Choral Society

Rehearsals Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142

or www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com

Cumnor Chess Club

Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett 862788

www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk

Cumnor & District

Historical Society

Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old School.

01865 724808

Cumnor Gardening Club http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or phone 01865 721026

Harmony InSpires, Ladies'

Acappella Singing Group

Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235 831352

or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk

Hill End Volunteer Team

Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call

863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk

Let’s Sing! – singing group Weds 2pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or email

emformusic@outlook.com

Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc

Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk

North Hinksey Preschool

and Childcare clubs

Mon–Fri 7.45am–6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email

nhps.manager1@gmail.com

N Hinksey Art Group Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997

N Hinksey Bellringers Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451

N Hinksey Conservation

Volunteers

Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr 07798743121

voirreyc@aol.com

N Hinksey, Friends of Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.

N Hinksey Parish Council Sharon Henley, clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk

N Hinksey Youth Club

Weds at LM pavilion, Daz on 07791 212866 or see F’book

Oxford Flood Alliance R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035

Oxford Flower Arranging Club 4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259

Oxford Harmony Men's Acap-

pella singing group

Meets Wednesdays 7.45 pm at Seacourt Hall, Contact

pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk

Oxford Otters

Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice

monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420

Oxford Rugby Club

Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com

Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.

Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis

Club, N Hinksey

Family club: Melanie Riste 848658

melanie_riste@hotmail.com

Raleigh Park, Friends of raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk

Saturdads at

Botley Bridges

Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s

10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955

Seacourt Hall Management

Committee

Michael Cockman 07766 317691

michael.cockman@gmail.com.

Shotokan Karate Club 6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450

Walking for Health

2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.45 Botley Library.

Alan 07941 610913

West Oxford Bowls Club Contact details on www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk

West Oxford Taekwon Do Club

Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall 01865

570291 www.wotkd.co.uk

West Oxford U3A (Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/

West Way Day Centre

Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.

oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Women’s Institute (Botley) Liz Manson, 244175 or liz.manson@virginmedia.com

Weight Watchers

Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso tel:

07779 253899 bansob@aol.com